Top hung sliding panel apparatus and method

Abstract

A hanger assembly for an architectural door or panel utilizes a head track connected to an overhead structural member with two concave tracks for receiving the convex wheel bearings which are attached to a hanger extending downwardly from the wheel bearings. The bottom of the hanger has a head which is inserted into a housing by way of an open groove. The housing is mounted to the frame of the door or panel. Rubber neoprene spacers are mounted between the head and the housing to adjust the vertical height of the door or panel relative to the head track and structural member. Additional wheel bearings may be added to the hanger as is necessary.

Description

INTRODUCTION[0001]This invention relates to a hanger assembly and, more particularly, to a hanger assembly for a sliding panel or door using a bearing assembly mounted within a head track which is mounted to the overhead structural member above the sliding door and to a housing operably connected to the door or panel and which utilises spacers to adjust the position of the panel relative to the structural member to ensure smooth and non-binding movement of the panel or door.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Sliding doors or panels which are opened and closed by sliding within a groove or on a track and which are maintained in their generally vertical position during the sliding movement are ubiquitous in residential and commercial construction. However, disadvantages in the use and installation of such panels are well known. First, if the sliding members are heavy, hanging such members is difficult and two or more specialized installers may be required. Second, continued and proper a...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

This patent relates to a system for moving hanging panels or doors. The system includes a head track that is attached to an overhead structural member, a pair of wheel bearings that move within the track, and a hanger with a removable head that is attached to a door or panel. The system also includes a housing that is attached to the panel or door and shims that are used to adjust the position of the panel or door relative to the wheel bearings. The technical effects of this system are that it allows for easy movement and sliding of panels or doors, and provides stability and flexibility while maintaining a smooth movement.

Problems solved by technology

However, disadvantages in the use and installation of such panels are well known.

First, if the sliding members are heavy, hanging such members is difficult and two or more specialized installers may be required.

Second, continued and proper adjustment of the sliding panels is important for proper operation of the panels or doors and, again, skilled labor may not be readily available to perform such adjustments.

Third, the weight of such doors may act in an unbalanced way on the bearings if they are not precisely positioned.

Thus, one set of bearings may receive more loading than a second set of bearings which affects the operation of the doors and the bearing life.

All of these attributes are unnecessarily expensive, time consuming and inconvenient for the user.

While this configuration went some way towards solving the aforementioned problems, it gave rise to problems in production.

In addition, only a limited number of wheel bearing pairs could be used since the distance between the wheel bearings and the hanger bottom decreased over its length.

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